North Korea launched its first challenge to Joe Biden’s government with short-range missile launch

North Korea fired several short-range missiles last weekend, the first direct challenge to Joe Biden’s administration in the United States. The incident took place days after Pyongyang verbally threatened Washington. for the continuation of joint military exercises with South Korea.

This was confirmed by sources close to the episode to the American newspaper. The Washington Post. A few weeks ago, intelligence agencies linked to the Defense Ministry warned that North Korea could carry out actions of this nature. And a few days ago, Kim’s sister said that if the Biden administration “wants to sleep in peace for the next four years, they had better refrain from causing trouble.”

The fact was officially confirmed by the Biden government hours later. In a dialogue with the press, senior officials said the test could not be called a “serious transgression.” and therefore that will not prevent the administration from seeking to establish diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.

However, the tests generate pressure the Biden administration to externalize the strategy with which it will tackle the North Korean nuclear threat, a problem that has accompanied Republican and Democratic governments in equal measure.

State Department spokesperson, Ned Price said the Biden administration wanted to develop a “new approach” for North Korea, but did not give further details.

US diplomats have said in recent weeks that The strategy will be so different from the approach of former President Donald Trump directly meet Kim Jong-un like that of Barack obama, who gave up interacting with Pyongyang until his behavior improved.

Neither policy succeeded in preventing North Korea will advance its weapon systems and suppress its own citizens through a combination of mass surveillance, torture and condemned political prison camps by human rights groups around the world..

With all, Biden government is aware it could be criticized for its ambiguity, especially in case North Korea resumes its nuclear provocations. Those concerns became more urgent earlier this month, when U.S. intelligence services detected signs that North Korea could resume such testing.

In an attempt to shield the government from possible criticism, sources in the Biden administration revealed to a reporter from Reuters What U.S. officials attempted to contact North Korea through various channels starting in mid-February, but received no response.

The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, confirmed this attempted rapprochement at a press conference.

Washington-based gun control organizations, some of which have a close working relationship with the Biden administration, fear North Korea will conduct more weapons testing.

“There is an urgent need to renew dialogue with North Korea as Pyongyang continues to accumulate more plutonium for nuclear weapons”, said to The Washington Post Darryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Gun Control Association. “The sooner the better,” he added.

This concern was shared by South Korea, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chung Eui-yong called for a “rapid resumption of dialogue” between the United States and North Korea.

KEEP READING: